ICT4Fisheries
{ Co-designed and fisher-driven ICTs to empower small-scale fisheries ‘from hook to cook‘ }
The ABALOBI* initiative is an open, transdisciplinary and social learning endeavour, bringing together various stakeholders, with traditional fishers taking centre stage. ABALOBI, as a mobile app suite and programme, is aimed at social justice and poverty alleviation in the small-scale fisheries chain, transformation in the way we produce knowledge, stewardship of our marine resources, and resilience building in the face of climate change. Promoting traceable, storied seafood by empowered small-scale fishers from hook to cook, in a manner that is not only ecologically responsible, but also socially fair. Because who fishes matters.
*ABALOBI is a registered non-profit organisation (191-303 NPO)
Many of our team members, including the small-scale fishers of South Africa, were integrally involved in the design of South Africa’s new Small-Scale Fisheries Policy, which emanated from a Constitutional Court Order and international human and fishing rights obligations. ABALOBI brings us together as an extension of our research, advocacy and policy work, and launches us into implementation and co-operative governance.
Learn more …
{ Working towards good governance and embracing a human-rights-based approach to fisheries: Through the development of an integrated small-scale fisheries information management system and mobile app suite, the ABALOBI initiative aims to enable small-scale fishing communities to be incorporated into information and resource networks: from fishery monitoring and maritime safety, to local development and market opportunities }
ABALOBI, isiXhosa for small-scale fisher, is the name given to the app suite by small-scale fisherfolk involved in the co-development process
Innovation
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Promoting stewardship
Fishers encouraged to serve as custodians and promote sustainability. Allows opportunity for integration with conservation efforts.
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Empowerment in the value chain
Working towards community-supported fisheries and traceable slowfish. Empowerment through market information and collective action.
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Co-operative fisheries governance
Using a common knowledge base, based on fishers’ daily data, all stakeholders at the co-management table are poised equally.
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Ecosystems approach to fisheries
Decisions by fishers and other stakeholders can be based on ecological and social indicators.
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Climate change adaptation
Improved safety at sea and resilience building in the face of climate change.
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Enabling tool for policy implementation
Small-Scale Fisheries Policy (South Africa) and UN-FAO Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (International)
{ What started as a participatory action research project with a strong community development interface, has evolved into a social enterprise that is now registered as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and public benefit entity to better serve its fisher-driven mission }
Transdisciplinary research
Stakeholders work together in framing the problem and research needs, leading to the co-design of the tool based on input and tests in real-life contexts.
Co-design and fisher-driven process
Ensures data ownership and trust. Practical development and implementation within a bottom-up, participatory framework. Focus on product, process and enabling policy.
Open source & free for small-scale fishers
Leveraging the latest tech and open source platforms. Sharing innovations globally.
Recognition of fishers’ knowledge
Bridging local knowledge with science and policy. Developing knowledge for co-management.
ICT4D for small-scale fisheries: The ABALOBI initiative is about catalysing real transformation, of knowledge generation, of people, and of resource governance
Apps
The ABALOBI app suite comprises five inter-connected apps – conceptualised in a co-design process and currently in various stages of development and testing. The five apps cover the full spectrum of stakeholders in the small-scale fisheries sector from hook to cook, governance and beyond. Learn more …
ABALOBI FISHER
The foundation of the app suite where fishers co–produce knowledge. Personal logbook with sharing options. Safety-at-sea integrations. More ...
ABALOBI MONITOR
Digitised community catch monitoring at the landing site & along the shoreline. More ...
ABALOBI MANAGER
Real-time fishery data & communications for co-management. More ...
ABALOBI CO-OP
Co-operative member & fleet management. Collective & transparent accounting. Catch value-adding. More ...
ABALOBI MARKETPLACE
Fish with an ecological & social ‘story‘. Towards community-supported fisheries. Empowerment in the value chain. More ...
International reach
Beyond South Africa: An open source approach to the co-development of the ABALOBI platform seeks to allow customisation and use by small-scale fisheries stakeholders worldwide, aligned with the implementation of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation’s (FAO’s) Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries.
Aligned with the United Nations SDGs
Recognition
- Top 10: UNESCO-NETEXPLO Forum 2017
- Development Award: SAB Foundation 2017
- UNESCO-Pearson Case Study 2017/2018
- Finalist: Apps Africa Awards 2016
Funders
Catalyst Fund
Get involved
We welcome expressions of interest from prospective funders, and research, technology & implementation partners interesting in helping us further our social mission ...
